WASHINGTON (AP) — Vice President Mike Pence said Thursday he believes it's time for special counsel Robert Mueller to conclude his investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election and other potential misdeeds by those in the president's orbit.

"In the interests of the country, I think it's time to wrap it up." Pence told NBC News following the release of three Americans held by North Korea.

Pence said the Trump administration has "fully cooperated" with Mueller's probe, including turning over more than one million documents. President Donald Trump has called the investigation a "witch hunt," and his outside counsel, former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani, has called on the Justice Department to put an end to the probe.

Pence added: "I would very respectfully encourage the special counsel and his team to bring their work to completion."

The vice president was pressed on the news about millions of dollars in payments from companies to Trump's personal attorney Michael Cohen. Pence said that was a "private matter" and "something I don't have any knowledge about."

Cohen, Trump's self-described longtime "fixer," is also under investigation for his role in paying hush money to a porn actress in the days leading up to the 2016 presidential election.

WASHINGTON (AP) — America is waiting for special counsel Robert Mueller's report. But anyone looking for a grand narrative on President Donald Trump, Russian election interference and all the juicy details uncovered over the past 22 months could end up disappointed.

DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — At a packed eastern Iowa house party, a staffer for Democrat Beto O'Rourke's presidential campaign tried to clear enough space for the candidate to reach the kitchen, where he would need to climb a stepladder to address the crowd.

WASHINGTON (AP) — In a matter of months, Stacey Abrams has gone from losing the Georgia governor's race to being a heavily recruited Democratic star, urged to run for Senate and mentioned as a possible presidential contender.

LIMA, Ohio (AP) — President Donald Trump returned Wednesday to Ohio, the state that foretold his 2016 victory, with a tour of a tank plant, where he touted its revival and told cheering workers "we are rebuilding the American military, we are restoring American manufacturing and we are once again fighting for our great American workers.